Democrats See Rift in House

[cal04]

Thank you Rawstory for the article.
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A major rift has developed within the House Democratic Caucus, as moderates and liberals wage a war over influence and questions mount over the leadership’s direction for the minority party, the paid-restricted Roll Call reports Monday, RAW STORY has learned.

The article, by reporter Erin Billings, echoes similar frustration staffers expressed in a RAW STORY article earlier this month. MoveOn.org has also weighed in on the dispute, running ads targeting the Democrats' number two in the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer for his role in supporting the bankruptcy bill."The split burst into public view last week at a whip meeting," Roll call reports Monday. "Tensions flared at the gathering over recent defections by moderate Democrats on key votes, most particularly the recent bankruptcy bill, in which 73 Members including House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) sided with the GOP."

Hoyer, the paper says, defended moderates; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) took sides with progressives and allegedly criticized centrists. “People are frustrated we had a divided leadership on this bill and they were very outspoken on the opposite sides," a Democratic staffer told Roll Call. "Maybe that’s what helped this meeting turn into what it turned into. It’s possible this was the final straw for many.”The meeting is said to have "underscored" a wider divide between more conservative and more liberal members of the caucus.

http://rawstory.com/aexternal/democrats_question_leadership_direction_425.htm

A major rift has developed within the House Democratic Caucus, as moderates and liberals wage a war over influence and questions mount over the leadership’s direction for the minority party.
http://www.rollcall.com/pub/50_104/news/8994-1.html

[redqueen]

1. About time!

Effing bankruptcy bill... what POSSIBLE reason could there be to defend these DINOs?

[halobeam]

2. I second that.

[xray s]

3. I was more pissed off about the DINO's who voted for the

Billionaire Trust Fund Babies Tax Elimination Bill.

[IADEMO2004]

5. The Paris Hilton tax cut?

[thethinker]

4. I am glad to see this.

Some of these "new" democrats are nothing but republicans calling themselves democrats. They need to be confronted. If they can't vote like democrats they need to be replaced.

I have never been so disappointed in democrats as I was when I saw how the democrats in the house voted on the bankruptcy bill.

We either have to the pull this party together or forget it.

[pberq]

6. Agreed.

But don't forget the 13 Dem. Senators that voted for the bankruptcy travesty, including the supposed leader, Sen. Reid.

[peacetalksforall]

7. My dream is that the disenfranchised in both parties could split and

join together...the word progressives would not survive, but I think there may be plenty of Republicans who are disgusted. There are Americans who don't like the extremes and neither Party has to be thought of as extreme...if you're talking fiscal responsibility, peace, opportunity, tolerance, keeping and improving the law with American fairness...well, there are a lot of us.

My other dream is that this nation could split in a bloodless act and the Frists, Falwells, Dobsons, PNAC, Cheney's and war mongering and polluting CEOs of corporations could form their own nation and let us keep our Constitution and Bill of RIghts.

[wildmanj]

8. dino

democrats who supported the republican in passing the bankruptcy bill are basically like drinking warmed over spit (republican spit at that)

[insane_cratic_gal]

9. err confused

wasn't their an article today that dems were more united then ever, fighting the good fight and refusing to back down?

Was in washingtion times or NY times..

[bleedingheart]

10. When the DCCC called and begged me for money I told them no

I would not give to their stupid PAC's anymore. I would only give to the candidates that were bleedingheart liberals like myself...the ones I hand pick...

I am sick of the general funds that ignored states like PA and lost seats to repukes because they wanted to target more "winnable" areas...bullshit.

I also don't like the idea of my money going to some anti-choice yahoo who is more worried about "morality" than healthcare.

[xchrom]

11. voting for that bankruptcy bill was mark of shame on the dems.

''progressives'' should take the centrists to task over this.

[arcos]

12. Democrats in the House are split over direction, leadership

Democrats in the House are split over direction, leadership

A major rift has developed within the House Democratic Caucus, as moderates and liberals wage a war over influence and questions mount over the leadership’s direction for the minority party, the paid-restricted Roll Call reports Monday, RAW STORY has learned.

The article, by reporter Erin Billings, echoes similar frustration staffers expressed in a RAW STORY article earlier this month. MoveOn.org has also weighed in on the dispute, running ads targeting the Democrats' number two in the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer for his role in supporting the bankruptcy bill.

"The split burst into public view last week at a whip meeting," Roll call reports Monday. "Tensions flared at the gathering over recent defections by moderate Democrats on key votes, most particularly the recent bankruptcy bill, in which 73 Members including House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) sided with the GOP."

Hoyer, the paper says, defended moderates; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) took sides with progressives and allegedly criticized centrists.

<snip>

http://rawstory.com/aexternal/democrats_question_leadership_direction_425.htm

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

13. Not nearly as split as the Republican party

Pander to the zealots, piss off the moderates
Ignore the zealots, lose "the base"

[wyldwolf]

14. of course, the leadership aide is correct

"One leadership aide said the divided was "complete bullshit," saying the minority party always struggles to maintain unity and direction when not in control of Congress.

"Republicans, the aide said, are trying to highlight Democratic differences on votes to try to weaken them as they suffer through charges of ethical wrongdoing and ill-thought-out policies like Social Security overhaul," Billings reports.

further....

"It’s perhaps not that frustrations between the different factions of the Caucus are higher than usual; it’s simply that Members are focused on themselves rather than the party itself."

Now, THAT I see!

Anyone who thinks this is some civil war in the party between more liberal members and moderates (I know some hope it is!) and that this situation is unique among a party out of power is mistaken.

Now, when the Dems REGAIN power and these inner party turf wars happen, THEN we have cause for concern.

Concentrate on the party in power. THEY are the ones who are having inner party turf wars.